Amanda Holden has joined forces with the BBC's Scam Interceptors after discovering scammers used her name and image to defraud victims. The Britain's Got Talent judge will appear in a special episode for BBC Scam Safe Week, working with host Rav Wilding to expose the criminals behind the fraud.
Holden revealed she was the unwitting victim of a 'romance fraud', where scammers pretended to be her online to con a vulnerable older man. The man was so convinced he was in a relationship with Holden that he put his house on the market, intending to send the proceeds to the fraudsters. Police intervened after his family raised the alarm, and he was stopped from selling his home just in time.
“I found this shocking and felt personally responsible for his wellbeing,” Holden said. “It made me realise that my profile is out there being used for all sorts of bad reasons. I thought if I can use my profile for good, and draw attention to the week of scam programming, then that could only be a positive thing.”
In the programme, the Scam Interceptors team uses remote access technology to monitor scammers in real time, confronting them and stopping frauds before they happen. Holden also confronted one scammer impersonating her, whom she dubbed 'Scamanda'.
Holden urged the public to be vigilant: “Never, ever give out bank details, pin numbers or transfer money. Hang up and call into your local bank branch or call their official number on the back of your bank card.”
